Archive for October, 2017

When it comes to art auctions, one of the first types of art that people gravitate toward is American art, and more specifically, paintings. When you are new to the art world, paintings are a great place to start because there are so many options. They are also the easiest to appreciate and learn more about. Knowing more about some of the best American paintings gives you a place to start in your quest to become more knowledgeable.

Portrait of a German Officer

This is a painting you might not know a lot about if you do not regularly follow art. However, this was created in 1914 by Marsden Hartley. It was painted to pay tribute to a friend of the artist who had died. It features a number of symbols that are associated with Karl von Freyburg, the fallen friend of the artist.

Marsden Hartley “Portrait of a German Officer”

Pantocrator

This painting is quite recent and it was created in 2002. The artist is Vincent Desiderio. The painting depicts three scenes that do not appear to go together at all. In fact, it is divided into three different panels and it is modeled after art that was very popular during the Renaissance time period. One of the panels shows a woman in the shower, the other a tower and the third is of a satellite in space. This is meant to depict the role that science plays in the everyday lives of people.

Allegory

This painting was created by Kara Walker in 1996 and quickly became one of the most popular paintings in American art. It follows the style that the artist is known for and focuses on the themes that she often uses in her work, including sexuality, history, race and religion. What it interesting about her work is that the interpretation is never clear, allowing you to make of it what you see.

Carol

This was created by Patrick Nagel in the 1980s. It looks like a woman you would expect to see walking down a runway during that decade. The woman has bright and smooth skin, is wearing high-fashion clothing and has jet black hair. This reminds people of the style and fashion of the 1980s.

PATRICK NAGEL (American 1945-1984) “Kristen” Serigraph on paper

You can see that there are so many different options when you are looking at some of the most popular paintings in American history. All of these paintings have a story behind them that allows you to better understand the thought process of the artist while they were creating it. Once you have a list of some of your favorite American paintings, you can start to look for them and those that are similar at art auctions.

Collecting art can be incredibly rewarding for a number of reasons. You want to know what the benefits of collecting are, especially for everyday people who are not art professionals. The art auction house is a great place for everyone and it gives you the chance to learn more about various types of art. Explore the advantages associated with collecting art and then get started with your new investment opportunity and hobby.

MAURITS CORNELIS ESCHER (Dutch 1898-1972) “Ant,” Lithograph

Meet New People for Networking

You do not have to work in art to benefit from networking with fellow art lovers. Once you get started with collecting art, you will find out about different events that are happening that you can attend. Keep in mind that a variety of art collectors are powerful people and they have a lot of connections. This can benefit you in your career no matter what industry you work in. So, take advantage of the different events even if you are not planning to buy at all of them.

Learn More About Art and History

Art and history are closely related, so when you start to collect art, you get to increase your knowledge of both of these. When you see pieces that inspire you, make sure to read up on them and what the purpose of the pieces are. For example, if you see a painting that makes you feel passionate about it, make it a point to learn about the history of the piece and why the artist created it.

Change Your Thinking and Enjoy More Detailed Thoughts

Art is simple and complex at the same time. This challenges your current way of thinking and makes you appreciate the small details. Those who collect art tend to be able to better analyze details, allowing them to see the bigger picture much faster. This can benefit you in all areas of life and aid you when it comes to things like solving problems in your life.

Become More Culturally Aware

All cultures throughout the world have art as a major focus. When you explore the different art available, you will start to learn about the cultures that created it. This makes it easier to be culturally aware and to expand your knowledge of people all over the world.

You can see that there are many reasons you might consider starting to collect art. When you are ready, head to an art auction house to see what is available and to increase your chances of finding great pieces. At this type of event, it is often easier to find a variety of art and there is a better chance of getting a great deal on what you find.